HW 33: A Pod Cast of a School in Iraq

I recently watched Alive in Baghdad‘s “Challenges at a Girl’s School in Baghdad” at http://aliveinbaghdad.org/2007/05/21/challenges-at-a-girls-school-in-baghdad/. It was published May 21, 2007. This pod cast was shot by Isam Rasheed and Translated by Qabas Al-Khafaji. “Challenges at a Girl’s School in Baghdad” talked to girls and teachers at a school in Baghdad. One teacher wearing a white head scarf and light marron lipstick was mainly featured. She said 225 students attend the Safina Middle School in Adhamiya, but just a couple of months ago over 300 girls attended the school. The woman said that “…Sectarianism and displacement has force some to join other schools.” She explains that this is the reason why there has been a great number of students dropped in all schools. When one student was asked if she was faced with any troubles on the way to school she said “Yes, sometimes when the Americans search the area.” The pod cast was shot at the school. The wall were bland and white with cracks and chipped paint. The classroom had desks, chairs and a chalkboard. The students all dress the same. The girls wore a long sleeved white shirt with a black dress over it and some wear headscarves. The teachers on the other hand wore colorful blouses. I learned a lot from this episode and I think others can learn from it too. Students there appreciate going to school and don’t take it for granted. I learned that one student said her family no longer wanted her to attend school because they feared for her safety, but the girl insisted on going. In America, I don’t think some children would necessarily choose to go to school if their parents did not want them to go. I found this quite memorable and touching. This footage differs from the footage you see on the news. I imagined the school to look a lot worse. On the new, they mainly show destructive property and violence, but this was different and allowed the Iraqi people to explain what they are face with in their country.